What is at stake in the ongoing Syrian civil war? Enough that the US is considering increasing its role in supporting the rebels — perhaps providing direct military support and training. Meanwhile, Roman Catholic Pope Francis says he might consider allowing priests to marry, while Belgium considers the possibility a hitman was behind an attack on a Jewish museum this weekend. That and more in today's Global Scan.

Legendary writer Gabriel García Márquez put Latin America and magic realism on the literary map with his influential novels. From style to content, he is beloved by writers and readers around the globe.

Updated

04/01/2014 - 11:15am

The US Secret Service has had a rough time of late. Just last week, three agents were sent home from a trip to The Netherlands after one agent was found passed out in the hall. Another incident in Miami a few weeks before led to two agents being given sobriety tests on the side of the road. All of this comes in the shadow of a 2012 incident where agents were accused of patronizing prostitutes in Colombia.

Qatar has been blasted for its treatment of its laborers — and a new report paints an unpleasant picture of what those jobs can be like. Plus Switzerland considers a big increase to its minimum wage and a Beijing student sees smog as a way to put smiles on people's faces.

Mexicans have long reigned as the main voices in the Spanish language soundtracks of popular US films and TV shows, like The Simpsons, that air throughout Latin America. But given the reach of their voices, the voiceover artists make very little money. And now their work is moving to even lower-wage countries.

François Hollande has long been under pressure for his policies. Now, he's under pressure around the details of an affair. Perhaps he needs a lesson from Abdul Saboor, praised as "Afghanistan's most honest man" in a country known for corruption. And is a woman on a swing a bit enticing? Some in Saudi Arabia say yes and want to stop it. All that and more, in today's Global Scan.

The NSA ha ignited a firestorm over its extensive spying on friends and allies alike, but it's clear the US is far from alone. Also, a new study finds billions of planets in the Milky Way that might be like Earth, and a former US president says he almost punched out a foreign leader. All this and more, in today's Global Scan.

In the Geo Quiz, we're looking for the Moon City. So where is it? For starters it's not on the moon. Host Marco Werman takes us to a restaurant in the Moon City where owner Andres Jaramillo has taken food and entertainment planning to a fine art.

The Darién Gap is an impassable tangle of jungle and swamp between Panama and Colombia that forces journeys along the Pan-American Highway to come to full stop. Only a few hundred travelers annually make this trip.

Gustavo Petro was a Colombian guerrilla for years. He was arrested and sent to jail. But now, after he and his group laid down their arms and he joined the political process, he's ascended to the mayorship of Colombia's capital and largest city — often a stepping stone to the country's presidency.

Colombia and the leftist FARC rebels are in the midst of months of negotiations to end the struggle between the two sides. And as the negotiations wear on, some are beginning to consider what it might look like if FARC turns to politics, instead of violence. But in doing so, they must face history.

The Darién Gap is a small stretch of rugged, swampy terrain between Panama and Colombia. It's the only point in the 48,000 mile long Pan-American highway where the highway literally stops — because it can't go forward.

In Colombia, World Cup celebrations turned rowdy — and deadly. Nine deaths and widespread arrests led some cities to ban alcohol while Colombia is playing, which has saved lives but devastated some businesses.

The NSA ha ignited a firestorm over its extensive spying on friends and allies alike, but it's clear the US is far from alone. Also, a new study finds billions of planets in the Milky Way that might be like Earth, and a former US president says he almost punched out a foreign leader. All this and more, in today's Global Scan.

Al Capone is a big tourist attraction in Chicago. He's on tours, trinkets and t-shirts. So what do Colombian immigrants make of the prospect of their public enemy number one, Pablo Escobar, becoming a tourist industry?

What is at stake in the ongoing Syrian civil war? Enough that the US is considering increasing its role in supporting the rebels — perhaps providing direct military support and training. Meanwhile, Roman Catholic Pope Francis says he might consider allowing priests to marry, while Belgium considers the possibility a hitman was behind an attack on a Jewish museum this weekend. That and more in today's Global Scan.

Qatar has been blasted for its treatment of its laborers — and a new report paints an unpleasant picture of what those jobs can be like. Plus Switzerland considers a big increase to its minimum wage and a Beijing student sees smog as a way to put smiles on people's faces.